These press clippings answer one question that has troubled Stones fans for years: did the legendary Nicaragua benefit concert of 18 January 1973 actually include an encore of Midnight Rambler as reported by Ben Fong-Torres in Rolling Stone magazine? As audio collectors know, the various LP and CD releases of this show carry an 18-song set that ends with Street Fighting Man rather than Rambler, so there has always been an inkling (or more) of doubt about the encore report. But these additional reviews offer multiple indications that Rambler was indeed performed that night in the Forum. For starters, both Robert Hilburn (Los Angeles Times) and Tony Scaduto (Words & Music) mention that the show carried 19 songs, which would be consistent with the 18 verified LP/CD tracks plus an unbooted encore of Rambler. Then five other reviewers nail down everything with direct, confirming testimony:

Circus - "Mick peeled off his belt to lash the stage as he encored with Midnight Rambler."

Rock - "The hypnotized crowd got its encore with the show-stopping Midnight Rambler."

Staff - "As an encore: Midnight Rambler."

Rock Superstars - "At any rate they did - yep, you guessed it - Midnight Rambler..."

Zoo World - "The encore, Midnight Rambler, closes things out..."

Case closed: Rambler was performed, and our audio documentation as released is incomplete by one song.